Apr042014

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Vice Chair of the U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee (JEC), discussed the March employment report released today and the economic outlook in a hearing with Bureau of Labor Statistics Commissioner Erica L. Groshen. Klobuchar and Minnesota Representative Erik Paulsen led the hearing.

Klobuchar said that the March employment report showing 192,000 total nonfarm jobs were added is a sign of improvement, but more work needs to be done to expand opportunity for all Americans. The report showed the unemployment rate remained steady at 6.7 percent in March.

“The March jobs report shows progress, but we have more work to do to ensure every American who works hard can find a job and get ahead,” Klobuchar said. “The Senate is on its way to passing critical legislation to extend vital unemployment assistance to help those looking for a job make ends meet, and we must also focus on solutions to grow the economy by cutting red tape for businesses, boosting manufacturing and strengthening skills training and science and math education.”

Klobuchar noted that while the national unemployment rate is down nearly a full percentage point since March 2013, long-term unemployment continues to be a problem in need of addressing. The Senate is set to vote early next week on an extension of federal unemployment insurance, which would provide critical assistance for jobseekers through May of this year.

Klobuchar also highlighted the need for policies to boost manufacturing and promote innovation by cutting red tape for businesses. She emphasized the importance of skills training for the long-term unemployed, as well as Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education in training the next generation of American workers. Klobuchar’s bipartisan Innovate America Act would double the number of STEM high schools in America from 100 to 200.